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Getting Healthy in 2015

Okay, so here’s how it went: I have always struggled with weight. In fact, it began in the 6th grade when I got a stress fracture in my foot after a fall. I went to a doctor (not my normal doctor), and he said the words I dreaded to hear. I can still remember that appointment way too vividly. That was the day that a doctor put me on a diet. I was 12 years old. Though it probably could have been done more sensitively, it was the best thing that could have happened to me at that point. I was on a path that was not a healthy one. Over that summer, my mom took the challenge with me. We dieted together (1200 calories-are you kidding me? How did we survive?! ), we rode bikes together (several miles a day) and we both lost LOTS of weight, and had a great time doing it. I lost about 30 pounds over that summer.

Fast forward several years, and I’m married and having my first precious baby. It was a wonderful time. I didn’t have any morning sickness, ever…(isn’t that a wonderful thought?). Yes, it was great, but it meant that I started eating from day 1 and didn’t quit. I gained 60 pounds with my first baby. I worked it off fairly easily though. Then, four years later, my sweet Hannah came along. And guess what…another 60 pounds. Then, when Hannah was just a few months old, we found out that Lydia was on her way, along with another 25 pounds. If you’re keeping count, that’s a LOT of extra pounds. After Lydia, I did Weight Watchers, which I liked, but I never felt that I was eating the best way to fuel my body, and I just didn’t feel good. I also had a pesky 15 pounds left that refused to come off. Weight seems to be easier to find and harder to lose as you get older. Can I get an amen?

And THEN, I turned 30. And it’s like my body began to rebel against all that I’ve put it through the past few years. Can anyone relate? Has anyone else experienced this? I felt terrible, I started having migraines, which led to having to take medicine which caused an upset stomach & digestive system, I was constantly tired, and I was having cravings that I felt powerless to control. Enter Deborah. I became friends with Deborah on a pastor’s retreat, and I followed her on Facebook and kept seeing her posts about Shakeology. Just out of curiosity, I messaged her about it. She filled me in, asked if I’d like to join a challenge group, and I thought about it, for months! Because that’s what I do…I’m slow like that.

I finally agreed to try it out and be part of a Challenge group. So she sent me a package of 6 Shakeology packs, and I started substituting one meal for Shakeology. I was doing it originally for weight loss, but the very next day, I noticed that my stomach was no longer upset like it had been for the past year and a half (since I’d started taking medication for migraines). At that point, I was hooked. I told Deborah to sign me up and I became a full-fledged Beachbody member. But that’s not where my sample week ended. In that week, I lost 5 pounds (and I have kept them off-even over Christmas). But, I’m not there yet! I still have a little bit to go. I still have 10 pounds to get off, but more than anything, I want to feel good and be healthy. After all, I need to do what I can do to be around as long as possible, right? And you just can’t beat the accountability and encouragement that these challenge groups provide.

I’d say that the greatest testimonial in our family though is my husband’s. About a month after I started drinking Shakeology, I had Tim try it. And if you know Tim’s history, he has had serious digestive problems since he got back from Iraq in December 2008. His doctor prescribed for him to take 8 Pepto Bismol per day and told him there really was no other option, and that Tim would probably have to do that the rest of his life. After the first week of Shakeology, Tim’s digestive system was 100% back on track, he no longer takes Pepto Bismol, and now he drinks Shakeology every morning for breakfast and is the biggest believer in it! THIS is the reason I’m sharing this. THIS is the reason I’m running my first challenge group. NOT because I lost 5 pounds and continue to lose, but because two people in my family feel so much BETTER and healthier.

If you decide you like Shakeology, Beachbody also offers a great deal on it that comes with your choice of fitness programs, and let me tell you, Beachbody has quite the range. If you like Intense workouts, they’ve got you covered with P90X or Insanity. If you are a low-key person like me, they offer one of the best workouts I’ve ever done, PiYo. It will get your heart going without a single jump, and it comes with a totally doable eating plan that I follow too. It’s awesome! So, that’s what I’ve been up to lately!

I remember when I was younger, it made all the difference having my mom on board with me, and that’s the great thing about the Challenge groups. It’s accountability and encouragement. Ready to jump in, or still want to know more? Shoot me an e-mail on Facebook or at deanadwood@yahoo.com.